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REAL ID: Get Ready by May—Here’s Why You Need One
(NEXSTAR) — It’s starting to warm up, which means the spring break and summer vacation travel seasons are nearly upon us. Without the necessary ID, however, you may find yourself grounded at the airport.
Come early May, you will need a REAL ID-compliant ID ( which you might already possess ) to board a domestic flight. (It will also be necessary if you are visiting certain federal facilities or entering a nuclear power plant, but we’ll focus on the air travel part for now.)
Once the REAL ID requirement kicks in, federal agencies like TSA will be prohibited from accepting state-issued IDs that do not meet the necessary standards.
In response to the September 11th terrorist attacks, Congress enacted the REAL ID Act in 2005. This legislation established a federal standard for state-issued driver’s licenses and identification cards. To comply with this act, states must demand evidence of an individual's full legal name, their date of birth, social security number, lawful residence status, as well as two documents confirming their residential address prior to granting them a driver’s license or ID card.
Before stressing about having to visit the DMV for a new ID, check your wallet: many states have been issuing REAL ID-compliant IDs for years, which means there is a good chance you already have one . If there is a star on your ID, you have a REAL ID.
If you do need a REAL ID, the process should be relatively simple. You’ll need documentation that shows your full legal name, your date of birth, your Social Security number, two proofs of address for your principal residence, and your lawful status.
In most states, your birth certificate and your Social Security card (or, in some cases, just the number), plus a bill and a pay stub, could satisfy requirements. Your state may require additional details, so be sure to check with local authorities, like the Department of Motor Vehicles, to confirm the necessary documentation needed to obtain a REAL ID.
The REAL ID compliance date is set for May 7. After this date, if you lack a REAL ID, you might be required to present additional identification. another form of identification , like a U.S. passport or military ID, to board a plane.
REAL IDs are optional . You will not need a REAL ID to drive, vote, apply for federal benefits like Social Security, enter a federal facility that otherwise does not require an ID (like a post office), go to a hospital, or “participate in law enforcement proceedings or investigations,” like jury duty.
It’s important to remember that REAL IDs primarily affect domestic air travel. These cards can’t be used to enter Mexico or Canada, so you’ll still require a passport for international trips along with any necessary visas.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This content must not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or distributed.To stay updated with the most recent news, weather forecasts, sporting events, and live videos, visit Nation Daily News.
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